REVIEWS – Richard Coombes – Prog House / Breaks  – Zone Magazine Issue 048

Send Promos to – r.coombesmusic@gmail.com

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Welcome to my Progressive House & Breaks review column for Zone Magazine. I began DJ’ing across the South West of England in the early 2000s, inspired by legends such as Sasha, John Digweed, Nick Warren, and Paul Oakenfold, as well as the immersive sounds of producers like Slacker, James Holden, Quivver, and BT.

Through my DJ’ing style of progressive electronic music, I like to take audiences on an aural adventure, blending genres and uplifting melodic beats. Here, I share reviews of music at the forefront of the scene, carefully reviewing hundreds of promos each week to highlight standout tracks from around the globe, that you need to know about.

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9/10 – Top Tune

Ezequiel Arias & Durante – Dream Controller [Anjunadeep]

New single “Dream Controller” see’s the collaboration between two top producers, Argentinian Ezequiel Arias and LA-based Durante both of whom are no strangers to the Anjunadeep label.

“Dream Controller” first made it’s way into my trainspotters notepad after hearing Ezequiel Arias play this on John Digweed’s Transitions Show back in February of this year, alongside many solo productions that have gone on to dominate the Beatport Charts. So you can imagine my delight when this finally landed in my inbox!

Having been a staple tune in both Ezequiel Arias and Durante’s DJ sets over recent months, “Dream Controller” has become a highly sought-after track ID, and has gained early support from top Progressive House DJ’s including Hernan Cattaneo, Fur Coat, Eelke Kleijn, Undercatt, Braxton
and Marsh.

Starting off with its hypnotic rhythms and moody synth lines, Dream Controller’s lush pads draw you like a moth to a flame building to it’s mesmerising breakdown. This will definitely be a big tune across Progressive dance floors across the land.

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9/10 Recommended

Nick Stoynoff – The Road Back [NOFF!]

Following on from Nick’s previous release on his NOFF! imprint and one of my favourite tunes of the year so far, the epic “The Hero’s Journey”, “The Road Back” takes a slightly different direction from recent releases with the original version being an ambient electronica track.

Nick explains that the concept of “The Road Back” is rooted in “The Hero’s Journey”, the larger narrative woven throughout the release. The original is an almost cinematic adventure into the world of ambient and electronica that uses multiple textured layers to deliver an immersive soundscape.

To translate Nick’s original ambient track into more club/dancefloor focused versions, Nick asked three top Progressive producers with unique musical identities to create their own adaptations.

First up is someone Nick and collaborated with recently, Aubrey Fry. Aubrey’s Interpretation is quite a dark and atmospheric journey through broken beat electronica.

Alex Banks is up next, Alex also incorporates a breakbeat feel into the track, giving the tune a driving and uplifting feel.

Last but by no means least is the Danny In Space Remix, here Danny uses crisp 4/4 beats and
incorporates the main elements of Nick’s Original to create an absolute beast of a Progressive House tune. Quality package, with something to suit a multitude of musical tastes.

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9/10 – D-Nox – My Life EP [Sprout]

German DJ and Producer D-Nox needs little introduction with a career within electronic music spanning over 30 years and a string of quality releases on seminal labels like Vapour, Balance Music and Bedrock.

Here we see D-Nox return with a classy solo release on his own Sprout Music imprint with his latest 2 track “My Life” EP. The EP opens with the track “Inner Peace” which is a deep progressive tune that has an introspective melancholy yet uplifting quality about it, featuring punchy percussion, deep chords and meditative vocals with light raps to provide some contrast.

On the flip side D-Nox ups the tempo and delivers a peak time progressive tune in the shape of “Your Love”. Here D-Nox again manages to deliver an uplifting yet melancholy tune that is packed full of emotion. Deep emotive bass chords, floaty arps and uplifting gated vocals, sit upon some crisp
percussion.

Two really classy tunes packed full of quality, that would not be out of place on any self respecting
Progressive dance floor worth visiting.

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9/10 – Gai Barone & Aman Anand – Low Era [Mango Alley]

Gai Barone is a producer that fans of Progressive House willneed little introduction to. Continuing his rich vein of formafter a string of quality releases over the past few monthson labels such as Meanwhile, Vapour and MelodicLab aswell as an unreleased collaboration with Nick Stoynoff thathas been gaining massive support from the likes of HernanCattaneo.Gai returuns to Mango Alley after last appearing on thelabel back in June of this year to remix Agustin Pengov andTirso Enriquez (AR) track “Tempest” alongside Aubrey Fry.This time Gai joins forces with an artist that is also nostranger to the label, Aman Anand.Here the duo deliver “Low Era” a tune that is guaranteed toget dance floors across the globe bouncing. The trackbuilds from the start with some crisp upbeat percussion,with the main synth line floating in and out of the mix,leading to a climatic breakdown that is destined to sendthe dance floor into a frenzy.The original is my favourite mix, but the package comesmore than suitably equipped with three further qualityremixes from Kebin van Reeken, Montw & Anton Borin,Yonsh. Quality package all round!

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9/10 – Ryn Kalos – Belle Epoque EP [PROGNOSIS]

Ryn Kalos returns to Progressive House and Breaks mainstay label Prognosis after producing a really nice melodic remix of Mista Twist & Latex Zebra’s “Tears In The Rain” which was released earlier in the summer.

Having also released on labels such as ARRVL and Dissidental ready this year, Ryn continues on the rich vein of form. The EP title track  “Belle Epoque” is the star of the show here with its intricate drum programming, lush pads, deep sub bass and floaty synths. Ryn creates a slice of puree motive synth laden electronica heaven which wouldn’t sound out of place in a Sasha set.

On Remix duties Focus FL makes to return to Prognosis providing a fresh rework of “Belle Epoque” utilising the key element of the original to create an uplifting melodic breaks interpretation.Wrapping up the EP is a really nice deep uplifting tune“Eternity” which employs some great synth work from Rynto create a bright melodic vibe.

Quality music here, with a package that covers all progressive bases.

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